Motor-vehicle.



F. E. CASE. MOTOR VEHICLE- nrnwnron FILED our. 10, 1000.

940,51 1 Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

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NEW YOBKfl-ABSIGNOB 130 GENERAL ELECTRIC A CORPORATION OF' NEW YOIK.

- specification of Letters Patent.

"Patented Nov.=16,-1909.

Application flied October l0, X908. Serial No. 838,258.

To all whom it may concern: D

Be it known that I, FRANK E. CASE, a c1t1- l zen of the. United States, residing at Schencctady. county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented ccrtuin new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to motor-driven vehicles employiu a plurality of trolleys or other current-collecting devices, and its object is to provide a novel connection of the trolleys, so as to insure approximately equal division of current between them.

it has been found advisable heretofore in the case of lar ye high-speed electric cars or locomotives supplied from an overhead conductor to employ two trolleys, since a single trollc is not sufficient for properlv collectin t e large currents required. Vlhen two t-riilleys have been thus used it has been the custom to connect them directly together. This arran out, while theoretically doubling the e active collecting surface, in practice does not always produce the desired result. Owing to itfcrcnocs in contact-pressure, such as may be developed in running, particularly at high speeds, the current divides unequally between the two trolleys, and at times one of them may be carrying practically the entire current.

My invention consists in providing means for connecting the two trolleys in independent motor circuits, so as to insure an approximately equal division of current between the two.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawin which shows diagrammatically the circuit arrangements for a motor-driven vehicle arranged in accordance with my invention.

In the drawing, A and A represent two trolleys or other cutrout-collecting devices, through which the current is drawn for opcr uting motors ll and IT. I have shown two groups of motors, each comprising a pair of motors permanently connected in parallel, since this is the arrangement ordinarily cmployccl on large motor-driven vehicles.

to C represent magnetically ucluulcd switches or coulactors, which are controlled from the "ulster-emuroller D. In order to simplify the drawing, the resistance steps on the muster-controller and the rcsisluucecontrolling coutuctors have been omitted and only the contact. arruugcnu-ut for scrlcs and parallel connections shown. When the moster-controller B is in its first or series position contactors C, C and C are energized, thereb connecting the two groups of motors B an 13 in series to the collector A. In this 1position of the switches the collector A is id c. It will, of course, be understood that the controlling switches might be arranged to connect the two trolleys in parallel in the usual manner at starting, if desired, but such a connection is not necessary at startin and at low speeds, and complicates the wiring; In the second position of switch D contactors C, O, C, C and C are energized, thereby connecting motors B between trolley A and ground, and motors B between trolley A and ground. Thus, two indc endcnt circuits are established, each inclu in one of the trolle s. Since the two trol eys are wholl in ependent, each trolley must collcct tie current for one set of motors, so that a substantially equal division of current between the two trolleys is assured.

It will be understood that the illustration of the controlling switches is purely diagrammatic, and in practice any suitable construction or arrangement of these switches may be employed.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In a motor driven vehicle, a plurality of current collectors all normally in engagement with the supply conductor under all eed conditions of the motor circuits, :1 p urality of motors, and a controller for said motors including means for connecting said collectors in independent motor circuits.

2. In a motor driven vehicle, a plurality of current collectors all normally in engage mcnt with the supply conductor under al speed conditions of the motor circuits, a plurality of motors, and a controller for said motors including means for establishing u plurality of independent motor circuits each including, one of said collectors.

3. In a motor-driven vehicle, a plurality of current collectors normally in ou agetucnt with the supply conductor, a p urulity of motors, and motor controlling switches m'run ed to connect the motors in series to one on lccl or at startin and to conncct lhcm independently to illcrcnt collcctors for runmn 4. In a motor-di'ivcn vehicle, a plurality of current. collectors normally in engage ment with the suppl conductor; a plug-ality In witness whereof, I have hereunto set of motglmzoamtl saith r-eqntrfllmg swgtche: my hand this 9th day of October, 1906. arrang es s. a sang e sex-lea cu-cm for starting comgrising one of said collect FRANK CASE- 5 ors, and to esta lish a. plurality of inde- Witnesses:

pendel lt parallel circuits for running each I Bun-mum B. HULL, mcludmg one of said collectors. 1 Hum! Oman. 

